Lift mechanism



July 5, 1949. T. MADLAND LIFT MEcHANIsM Filed Jan. 8', 194e a., a Y O O 4 mm. my issn? L D ih. I IN `S s m, N, Q O 5, y ,ad f r .H\|w1|||| Q Il Q lHHHHIIIlIlHHHHIINMPWWwIM |AIUNNHIWWIWJ? Il .HuJJmw 1 .w l O. O lQuW/A. Q QN, umvnllOuH 2 3 Q o o MIN f fFIV lo Nw--- ifa N lhldfr v mm O OO 2@ g, 2G@ 0 sv www S O G O O O O O O *\\O 0 Q G O O O O C C .0 O J A\. m# Y o O f S FL O o o r O O O O O O O w/Q S /f \/\lL Patented July 5, 1949 AnLIFT"CMECH'NISM Thorva'ld Ma'dlan'ld; "Chicago," "IIL," assignorto The l'Youngstown' SteeV'Door filompanyf 'UlevelantL Ohio; al corporation-ofi Ohio 12 Claims.

This invention relates to 1ift..mechanism and moreparticularly tolift mechanism` for sliding doors .of railway house cars.

"It-is an object of this invention `toprovi.de.li`ft mechanism -for sliding .doors for .railway house cars `which'sl'lall embody relatively fewsimple and inexpensiver parts, 'obtain a substantial.. reductionginthe number. of castings required, be easilyY operablein either direction .in a plane parallel'tothe'doors, and. secure a reductionof the "outward` projection relativetolthe doorsv so that-"the mechanism lmaybe .utilized onr cars 4of varyingwidthswithout encroaching onthektunnell-clearance.

A further object is `to provide such mechanism embodying anactuating lever which shall".be maintainednfthe `Vertical position except'when the" door isbeing opened or closed.

"A" further object is to provide such mechanism `embodying an actuating lever-andcapable of preventing `whipping of the* lever-When Athe doorl is'force'd" upwardly by vibration of or impact upon the car.

A fur'therlobjectdsrto provide lift mechanism for-sliding car ydoors which shall embody con necting fbars, springs `and -abutments for-the springsl'associated with thebars 'so as' to `prevent transversebending thereof.

fn further object is to vprovide lift mechanism for sliding car doors which shall embody iconnectingfbars, springs `and abutments *for 'the springs associated with` the barsso .as `to retain thelmechanism uponthe doors duringits assembly` with' the doors.

further object isttoprovide such mechanism embodying rollersf'and'related lifting abutments wherein-the liitl mechanism is so` designed and constructed-that 'impact of the .abutments upon 'che rollers isprevented whenzthe doors 'drop upon their supporting tracks.

Other 'objects of the invention W'illbecome clear "as the description lthereof t proceeds.

'In the-drawings.` forming part of this. specilication:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of alowenportionofj a sliding lift door `embodying the "instant invention, vpartsbeing broken away toillustrate the invention morel clearly .and `on a larger scale.

`Fig. 211s a Ahorizontalsection taken V.on line 2-12o'f` Figs'l.

`Fig."3 `is-an "enlargeddeta'il of theouterend oftheconnecting bars of :thelift mechanism.

Inthe `drawings "the lift mechanism-embodying the `instantinvention4 is 'illustrated uponan outside sliding rcardoor Ztl)l Whose panel .II ,is

formed with spacedA horizontal corrugations I2. The 'lower edge .of the door is preferably in the form of albox sectionwhich as illustrated comprisesfthepanel II, va.backing.plate I3 secured theretonin .the innerplane of the" panel as "by means of rivets I 4t and a `substantially Z-shaped plate lsecuredto .the panel II in the outer plane.thereof..aslby.means of.rivets I6 and eX- tending downwardly therefrom' and formed 'into a -web I'I `adaptedto supportthe door upon Va track .I84 and` .a .depending flange I 9 `lying behind the track. so astojprevent disengagement `of fthe door` from the car. lThe loweredge of the backing. plate I3l is .vsecuredtoj the latterflange of the Zeshaped plate memberlin any desired manner. `The particular. construction at the bottom edge of fthe door briefly.described above forms no specific partof .thefinstant inventionA except insofar asit provides .space `for. the reception .of the lifting mechanismv embodying `the instant invention. Any ldesired construction of box .section may ,beutilized .or-:any other .construction which wllwpermitfoperation onthe lift mechanism. `For example, the box section illustrated .in thepatent to Beauchamp, ...2,37`3,44`7,.granted April 10, 194,5, may .be .utilizedif desired.

Lift mechanism. .embodyingtthe instant inventionisaan. improvement-upon the lift mechanism illustrated ,in .the Beauchamp patent Iabove identified. The yinstant lift `.mechanism embodiesa plurality Mof. vertically .space'dfrol'lers 120- and 2-I whichfare rotatablyzmounted :upon pins-22 and 23 supported in a yoke member.24. One endl of a..fconnectng=-.bar.ais secured lto the yoke memb,er..24.. as..by.meansfoi rivets-.26. lThe other end of .the connectingmbarfis pivotallycon-nected :as indicatedat: 2l to anaactu-atingtmember 28 `which is,.provi.ded vvitl1-.trur xnions j ournalled-in -the bottom plate-tfandoin albracket member 29. The constnuctlon.Y of the f--actuating member l28,` its pivotal-securementto thefconnecting bar 2-5, 'and the structure .-ofq-thebracket' member 2 9 are more specicallydetailed .invlthefpatentto Beauchamp 2,373,447. .operating .lever .30 is mounted. up on .the .,outer...trunni-onl` .of .the y ,actuating member.

. Theelift mechanism Aalso embodies a plurality of `similar...rollers..3I :andZ `.disposed on theoppositeside fof the actuating.` member 28 anderetatably mounted upon pins 33 and 34 supported ina., yokamember. iOne end. of -a connecting bar. 36..isf securzedto .the .yoke :.35tas by'. meansof riuetsl andthey othenend ofthe baris pivotally securedto .the actuating member 28.

1\.,An'g1e .members,..38 u,and l2.39 are secured-fas y.by means .of..riveting.gto.the formed .Z-,plate I 5. FIJ-he inwardly extending legs 40 and 4l of the angle members are slotted as indicated at 42 and 43 in order to receive the connecting bars 25 and 36. By this construction transverse bowing of the connecting bars is prevented and the lift mechanism is securely retained upon the Z-shaped plate |5 during the assembly thereof with the remainder of the door. f

The instant invention disposes and maintains the operating lever 3l] in a vertical position and prevents whipping of the lever during transit of the cars. To this end the connecting bars 25 and 36 are slotted as indicated at 4d to provide alined anges l5 and 46. Coiled compression springs li and it are mounted upon the alined flanges i5 and f5.6. These springs are placed under initial compression with one end abutting the yoke members -or the connecting bars and..

the other end abutting the angle members 40 and di. In this manner the vertical position of the lever is obtained and Whipping thereof is avoided regardless oi the normal tolerances and discrepancies of construction. In lowered position the door is frictionally supported upon the track I8 upon which the lower rollers 20 and 3| rest. The upper rollers are disposed under oppositely inclined ilanges 49 and 50 formed respectively on angle members I and 52 which are secured in any desired manner to the Z- shaped plate i5. Movement oi the door along the track is obtained by swinging of the operating lever Sil in the direction in which it is desired to move the door. Swinging of the operating lever which is guided by means of a retaining flange 53 formed on a bracket 5d secured to the door imparts rotation to the actuating member 28. The actuating member through its pivotal connection with the bars and 36 exerts a pull upon these bars in opposition to the springs 41 and M3 which are further compressed. The movement of the bars 25 and 3o causes the rollers 2i? and si to roll toward each other upon the track it and the rollers 2l and 32 to engage and roll along the underside of the inclined flanges lli] and 5i). The movement of the rollers imparts a lifting force to the door which is accordingly raised above the track whereupon the door is supported upon the rollers for movement along the track. Upon release of the operating lever the door automatically seats itself upon the track and establishes frictional engagement therewith so that the track instead of the rollers carries the weight of the door. v

It is apparent that the action of the springs 4"! and fail constantly biases the rollers away from each other as long as no external force is applied to the operating lever. The lever is accordingly maintained in its vertical position. Moreover, should the door rise relative to the track as a result of vibration or impact to the car, the springs electively maintain the vertical position of the operating lever. Since the action of the springs maintains the plurality of rollers in the position illustrated in the drawings, :it is apparent that when the door again drops upon the track impact between the inclined anges it and 5U and the rollers 2| and 32 will be prevented and the impact will be entirely upon the track. l lt will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. For ex ample, a single spring may be used in place of the plurality of springs if desired. it is intended, therefore, that all such changes and modifications be comprehended within this invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device, slots in said members through which said means extend, each of said means being coped to provide spaced alined flanges, compression springs mounted on said flanges, said springs bearing against said means and said members, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

2. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors cornprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device, slots in said members through which said means extend, springs engaging said members and said roller carrying means, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

3. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device, slots in said members through which said means extend, resilient elements bearing against said means and said members, said resilient elements being under initial compression, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

4. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, abutments secured to said door on opposite sides of said device, each of said means being coped to provide spaced alined anges, compression springs mounted on said flanges, said springs bearing against said means and said abutments,

oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

5. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, abutments secured to said door on opposite sides of said device, compression springs bearing against said means and said abutments, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with theL underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device. i

6. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors, comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device in transversely overlapping relationship with said means, each of said means being coped to provide spaced alined flanges, compression springs mounted on said flanges, said spring bearing against said means and said members, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

7. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device in transversely overlapping relationship with said means, resilient elements bearing against said means and said members, said resilient elements being under initial compression, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a lever mounted on said actuating device.

8. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said device in transversely overlapping relationship with said means, springs engaging said members and said roller carrying means, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

9. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying said rollers, a lever mounted on said door for swinging movement in a plane parallel thereto, said lever being operatively engaged with said roller carrying means, members secured to said door on opposite sides of said lever, flanges on said means, compression springs mounted on said anges and bearing against said means and said members, and inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, for the purpose set forth.

10. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying each pair of rollers, an actuating device adapted to be journalled in a said door, said device being pivotally connected with each of said means, an abutment member secured to said door, a compression spring bearing against said abutment member and the means carrying a pair of rollers, oppositely inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating device.

11. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spaced pairs of rollers, means carrying said rollers, a lever mounted on said door for swinging movement in a plane parallel thereto, said lever being operatively engaged with said roller carrying means, a member secured to said door, a spring engaging said member and said roller carrying means, and inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, for the purpose set forth.

12. Lift mechanism for sliding car doors comprising spa-ced pairs of rollers, means carrying said rollers, a lever mounted on said door for swinging movement in a plane parallel thereto, said lever being operatively engaged with said roller carrying means, a member secured to said door in transversely overlapping relationship with said means, a spring engaging said member and said roller carrying means, and inclined members secured to said door, certain of said rollers being engageable with the underside of said inclined members, for the purpose set forth.

THORVALD MADLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 624,739 Beal] May 9, 1899 2,373,447 Beauchamp Apr. 10, 1945 

